ALLEN (WILLIAM M.) CORRESPONDENCE

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SUMMARY

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE

William M. Allen, born in 1833, was a farmer and lived in Holmesville, Pike County, Mississippi. During the Civil War, he served as a private in the Confederate Army, 38th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers. His brother-in-law, John Houston, was farmer in Webster Pairsh, La., and his brother, F. L. Allen, served as a private in the Confederate Army, 39th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

Pre-Civil War letters from John Houston discuss crops, weather, farm land, Houston's advocacy of secession, and local social events. Civil War letters from various individuals to Allen describe skirmishes in Kentucky and Louisiana, camp life and conditions, duties, and war news, such as the shelling of Port Hudson, Louisiana. Family affairs, illness and remedies, and attendance at the New Orleans School of Medicine are additional topics of discussion in the correspondence.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The earliest letters in the collection are written to Allen from his brother-in-law, John Houston, a farmer in Minden, Webster Parish, La. He comments on corn and cotton crops, drought, the Baptist Revival, and farm land on the Red River in Natchitoches Parish (Sept. 3, 1858). He also writes from Bossier Parish commenting on crops in which some farmers make 6 to 13 bales of cotton to the hand (Oct. 18, 1859), mentioning a drought and loss of 50 hogs in 3 weeks (June 11, 1860), the yield expected in corn and cotton, the response of North Louisiana to the call for troops, the departure of Coushatta Rifles commanded by Captain Simmons, the health of slaves, and the statement that he became a secessionist when Lincoln proclaimed “no compromise” for the South (Sept. 29, 1861).

A number of letters are also written to Allen from his brother, F. L. Allen, Confederate private in the 39th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers, commanded by Captain Nash. He states that his company is the best drilled in eleven companies in Grenada, Mississippi (Nov. 30, 1861), and mentions the hours spent on guard duty as well as a skirmish with Federal troops at Columbus, Kentucky (Dec. 22, 1861). He comments on the proposed visit of his family, mentioning his need for food rather than clothing and commenting favorably on good tents with chimneys and cane beds. He also discusses his duties including work on fortifications in Port Hudson, Louisiana (Jan. 7, Dec. 16, 1862; Mar. 4, 1863). A letter from W. W. J. Magee, Confederate 3rd lieutenant, near Port Hudson, discusses shelling by United States gunboats and describes comfortable sleeping quarters (Dec. 16, 1862).

Also included are letters from Allen’s sister, J. A. Gillespie, in Liberty, Amite County, Miss., discussing family affairs and urging him to beware of the sins in camp (Dec. 19, 1861; June 30 and July 25, 1862), and a letter from his father, Felix Allen, commenting on the gloomy war news, drought, and poor corn crop (July 15, 1862). A letter from his sister, Letty, in Minden, La., comments on sickness in the area and people dying daily, stating that blue mass and quinine are prescribed for chills and fever, and mentioning the observation of July 4 in the area and Methodist preaching at night (July 9, no year).

Finally, a furlough approved by P. Brent, Confederate lieutenant colonel, for Allen, age 29, to go to Magnolia, Pike County, gives detailed information including physical description and date of enlistment (May 17, 1862).

CROSS REFERENCES

CONTAINER LIST